Northwest Suburban • Fox Valley • DuPage County • Lake County
Hometown: Kildeer
Parents: Shain-Jer Doong, Shwu-ing Chen
Sponsor: Melissa Mack, English teacher
Class rank: 2 out of 1,092
GPA: 4.7882 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 35; SAT 2320
College: Stanford University; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Planned major: Engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; AP Scholar; American Invitational Mathematics Exam qualifier 2009, 2010
Personal statement: "I understand that success is earned only with a continual desire to improve. Success is the final triumph; a marker, a declaration of achievement. It seems to trivialize the motivation, hard work, the trepidations that lay the foundations for success. Thus my goal is not to merely succeed - to collect rewards, but to learn from and enjoy the journey that might lead to success."
Sponsor's endorsement: "She excelled in all areas of my class; she is a beautiful writer and insightful reader. In fact, I often saved her responses for last as a treat to myself after many long hours of grading."
Hometown: Wauconda
Parents: Jeanne and Steven Geusz
Sponsor: Lynne Strutzel, principal
Class rank: 1 out of 348
GPA: 4.52 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 35
College: Loyola University, Chicago; University of Chicago; Illinois Wesleyan
Planned major: Undecided
Awards, honors: MathFAX, first place in geometry of Catholic school students nationally; Science department award; National Spanish Exam, gold prize
Personal statement: "My accomplishments thus far have convinced me that what I want out of life is to understand people on both intuitive and analytical levels, and to then use that knowledge to reshape society's attitudes."
Sponsor's endorsement: "She is the kind of student who serves as a model of excellence to her peers. I have come to recognize her as an outstanding individual, highly motivated - someone who fits the description of a lifelong learner. Among her many assets are her willingness to work hard and her strong sense of responsibility. ... This student seeks knowledge for the sake of knowledge; she pursues beyond what is expected."
Hometown: Buffalo Grove
Parents: Linda and Michael Goone
Sponsor: Melissa Mack, English teacher
Class rank: 1 out of 1,092
GPA: 4.8022 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 35; SAT 2270
College: Dartmouth College
Planned major: Economics and Spanish
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; National AP Scholar; Gold Honor Roll throughout high school
Personal statement: "Throughout my high school career I have exerted my best effort in all areas because I firmly believe in learning for the sake of learning. While many students structure their time in high school to put themselves in the best position for a certain university and a certain career, I believe that an education should be different. I think that being a well-rounded intellectual is the most worthy end in itself, and a career will follow based on my interests."
Sponsor's endorsement: "In addition to his exemplary writing skills and willingness to step out of what was a successful writing comfort zone, this nominee was also a commanding presence in all class discussions. His perspective was always fresh, insightful and compelling."
Hometown: Vernon Hills
Parents: John and Teresa Hogan
Sponsor: Judy Stone, counselor
Class rank: 1 out of 297
GPA: 4.662 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 35
College: University of Chicago; Duke University; Carnegie Mellon University
Planned major: Mathematics
Awards, honors: Two Time AIME Qualifier; IHSA All-Academic Team; Top finisher, V.S. Physics Bowl
Personal statement: "I'm thankful for all the opportunities I've had throughout high school and the accomplishments they brought with them. I am excited to continue to get to try out new activities, strengthen old skills, and learn new ones - and in doing so, follow some of my life goals of helping others, and learning new things."
Sponsor's endorsement: "Sean is one of the most naturally brilliant students I have encountered in my 20-plus years in education. Sean is a remarkable thinker; his ability to reason systematically is matched by his wit, cleverness, and zest for learning. I relish Sean's humorous insights as much as I admire the integrity of his ideas."
Hometown: Round Lake Beach
Parents: Jeffrey and Grazyna Oehrlein
Sponsor: Jinger Moore, counselor
Class rank: 2 out of 384
GPA: 4.871 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
College: University of Chicago; Northwestern University
Planned major: Secondary math education and visual arts
Awards, honors: Salutatorian; top science student of the senior class; National Honor Society Certificate of Merit
Personal statement: "My biggest aspirations include helping others on a wider scale than teaching in a high school. In the same way that my accomplishments in high school will provide for an attainably excellent teaching career, I believe that all the things I experience and accomplish as a teacher will open doors for making the world a better place on a grand scale."
Sponsor's endorsement: "Probably the most impressive quality about this student is attitude. This student is always positive and calm and has a happiness that is contagious."
Hometown: Libertyville
Parents: Wenan Qiang and Jinrong Liu
Sponsor: Marina Scott, principal
Class rank: 1 out of 485
GPA: 4,782 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 35; SAT 2360
College: Massachutes Institute of Technology; California Institute or Technology; University of Chicago
Planned major: Bioengineering
Awards, honors: 2009 Siemens Competition Semifinalist; 2010 United States National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) National Exam Qualifier; Appointed to the nationally renowned Jackson Laboratory's Summer Student Program
Personal statement: "I hope to use my scientific and leadership talents to address the intricate biotech details needed to design and market viable products that will provide treatments and cures for many diseases. With each of my current accomplishments, I am closer to starting the project of my dreams: a biotech company of my own that is sustainable and beneficial for society."
Sponsor's endorsement: "He confirmed for me all that is right in education and personified what true academic excellence looks like."
Hometown: Lake Zurich
Parents: Diane and Ray Simnick
Sponsor: Carl Krause, counselor
Class rank: 1 out of 550
GPA: 4.520 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 33
College: University of Chicago; Northwestern University; University of Michigan
Planned major: Economics
Awards, honors: National Qualifier in Economics for FBLA; National Qualifier in Business Procedures for FBLA; Third place team in College of Lake County Accounting Honors Competition
Personal statement: "My mental agendas are structured with life goals ever-present in the back, dreams and wishes alphabetized on the left and daily realities always in the front. But perhaps instead of crossing these off when accomplished I store them as memories of a life full of accomplishments."
Sponsor's endorsement: "This young man will succeed in whatever he pursues in his life. But, along with his success, he will help others in various ways. ... He will make a difference with many members of the community that he lives to serve."
Hometown: Lake Villa
Parents: Arturas and Violeta Vinckeviciai
Sponsor: Cheryl Cox, counselor
Class rank: 2 out of 344
GPA: 4.63 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 33; SAT 2040
College: Northwestern University; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of Wisconsin
Planned major: Engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit Scholar; AP Scholar with Distinction; Illinois State Scholar
Personal statement: "Each day I try to be the best person I can possibly be, but the quality I am most proud of is my dedication. It has been nothing but hours of hard work and late nights that have gotten me to where I am today, and I could not be happier with my achievements."
Sponsor's endorsement: "What separates her from my other bright students is that she doesn't focus on what she has learned already, but how much more she wants to learn and experience. She learns not just for the grades, but for the sake of learning. "
Hometown: Vernon Hills
Parents: Jeffrey and Nancy Wagner
Sponsor: DeAnn Firnbach, counselor
Class rank: 2 out of 297
GPA: 4.635 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 36; SAT 2360
College: Princeton University; Dartmouth University; Northwestern University
Planned major: Biological sciences
Awards, honors: Summer Science Program, Ojai, Calif.; Abraham Lincoln Book Award Student Reader for 2011 Master List; James Glacking Young Musicians Competition finalist
Personal statement: "The sheer number of different career paths, from biomedical and health sciences to the performing arts, that are available throughout life would align with my interests and fulfill me. I know that any one of the careers will lead me down a path toward creativity, accomplishment, and variety and my goal is to unite all three of them into one profession so I can continue to pursue all the things I love to do."
Sponsor's endorsement: "I hope someday I can say, 'That Nobel Prize winner was once a student of mine.'"
Hometown: Gurnee
Parents: Zhiren Xia and Xiaorong Wang
Sponsor: Jayson Paulus, counselor
Class rank: N/A
GPA: 4.750 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 36
College: Washington University in St. Louis; Northwestern University; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Planned major: Biological sciences, biochemistry, molecular biology
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) Semifinalist; USA Department of Education Presidential Scholar Candidate
Personal statement: "I have embraced my good fortune wholeheartedly, delving into my passions with an enthusiasm I know firsthand not everyone gets to enjoy. Luckily for me, the maxim, 'Do what you like,' has always led me back to the three S's: scholastics, service and sports - in my opinion, all prerequisites to success in college and in life."
Sponsor's endorsement: "He has proved to be one of the finest students I have encountered in my 23 years in education. Professional, thorough and responsible are words that come to mind when trying to describe his personality and work ethic."
Honorable mentions
Hometown: Grayslake
Parents: Mary Miller and Dan Burch
Sponsor: Jeff Schagrin, social studies teacher
Class rank: 2 out of 332
GPA: 4.591 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 31
College: University of North Carolina
Planned major: Political science
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Student; AP Scholar with Distinction; Outstanding Social Studies Student
Hometown: Gurnee
Parents: Janice and James Hennessy
Sponsor: Katherine A. Duffy, lead guidance counselor
Class rank: N/A
GPA: 4.70 on a traditional 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 34; SAT 2150
College: University of Illinois
Planned major: Accounting/economics
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; Honor Roll; National Honor Society
Hometown: Green Oaks
Parents: Don and Becky King
Sponsor: Marina Scott, principal
Class rank: 4 out of 485
GPA: 4.553 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 36
College: Emory University; Washington University in St. Louis; Carleton College
Planned major: Biology
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Scholar; National Honor Society; Honor Roll
Hometown: Lake Zurich
Parents: Rick and Kathy Lastres
Sponsor: Lynne Strutzel, principal
Class rank: 2 out of 348
GPA: 4.45 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 34; SAT 2270
College: University of Chicago; St. Louis University; Marquette University
Planned major: English
Awards, honors: Superior Honors student; Department Award in Social Studies; Service Club Bronze Award
Hometown: Hawthorn Woods
Parents: Andrew and Barbara Leopold
Sponsor: Kaye Polakoff, guidance counselor
Class rank: 3 out of 549
GPA: 4.4953 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 34
College: University of Iowa; Tulane University; Georgia Institute of Technology
Planned major: Biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: American Legion School Award; Illinois State Scholar; Special Recognition for Exceeding Standards on PSAE Test
Hometown: Antioch
Parents: Mark and Mary Mrowiec
Sponsor: Johnna Slocum, guidance counselor
Class rank: 3 out of 311
GPA: 4.636 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 33
College: Northern Michigan University
Planned major: Zoology
Awards, honors: Outstanding student, English department; Illinois State Scholar
Hometown: Antioch
Parents: Greg and Mary Nogle
Sponsor: Marni Polakow, teacher and coach
Class rank: 5 out of 311
GPA: 4.62 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 33
College: Milwaukee School of Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Benedictine University
Planned major: Biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: Straight A Honor Roll; school winner of AMC 12; Illinois State Scholar
Hometown: Lindenhurst
Parents: Michael and Annette Post
Sponsor: Gwen Varney, guidance counselor
Class rank: 1 out of 344
GPA: 4.63 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 32
College: Drake University; Purdue University; Illinois State University
Planned major: Actuarial science/finance
Awards, honors: AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; Chicago Fire All Academic Second Team
Hometown: Lake Zurich
Parents: George and Lisa Sambor
Sponsor: Andrew Poska, associate dean of college counseling
Class rank: N/A
GPA: 3.96 on a traditional 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 26
College: Brown University
Planned major: Engineering
Awards, honors: Cum Laude Society; AP Scholar with Distinction; Academic Performance List
Hometown: Grayslake
Parents: Shannon Zalewski
Sponsor: Veronica Lujano, guidance counselor
Class rank: 1 out of 332
GPA: 4.605 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT 34; SAT 2040
College: Purdue University; University of Minnesota; Butler University
Planned major: Pre-pharmacy
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with Honors; Illinois State Scholar; 7th Semester Honor Roll